# deal with sb

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deal-with-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

To interact with someone, especially as part of your job or a specific task.

For teachers: To interact with a person, especially in a professional or transactional capacity.

## Examples

- I deal with customers every day.
- As a manager, she has to deal with many different types of people.
- The diplomat was praised for her ability to deal with intransigent foreign leaders without compromising her country's core principles.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I deal the customers." but "I deal with the customers." — The preposition 'with' is required to connect the verb 'deal' to the person you are interacting with.

## Usage notes

- The object is a person or group; the phrase can be neutral or imply the person is difficult.
- Teaching tip: Contrast this with 'deal with something', which means to handle a problem or task, not a person.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.